Gear · 12 min read · September 18, 2026
The best teleprompters in 2026: 8 hardware picks
Beam splitter rigs for phones, tablets and studio cameras, from pocket-sized to broadcast. What each one is good at, and what to watch out for.
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Quick picks
| Pick | Best for | Screen it uses |
|---|---|---|
| Elgato Prompter | Streamers and desk setups | Built-in display |
| Glide Gear TMP 100 | All-round value | Phone or tablet |
| NEEWER X14 III | Large iPads | Tablet up to 12.9" |
| Desview T3 | Clean glass on a budget | Phone or small tablet |
| NEEWER X12 | Mid-range camera rigs | Phone or tablet |
| Parrot Teleprompter | Travel and run-and-gun | Phone |
| FEELWORLD TP16 | Studio distance and stages | Tablet |
| Ikan PT-Elite | Professional productions | Tablet |
How a hardware teleprompter works
A teleprompter rig holds a screen face up under a sheet of beam splitter glass angled at 45 degrees in front of the camera lens. You read the reflection of the text; the camera looks straight through the glass and never sees it. The result is perfect eye contact: you are literally looking into the lens while you read.
Because you read a reflection, the text has to be mirrored. Any teleprompter app with mirror mode, including Teleprompter Premium+, does this with one tap.
The 8 best teleprompters
1.Elgato Prompter
Streamers & deskBeam splitter with built-in display
- Built-in ~9" screen
- Connects to your computer
- Stream Deck integration
- For webcams and cameras
Why we like it
- No phone or tablet needed: it's a second monitor behind the glass
- Excellent for Zoom, streams and desk recording
- Can show your call or chat, not just a script
Watch out for
- Tied to a computer, not portable
- Heavier front end needs a solid camera support
Verdict: The easiest way to get true eye contact at a desk. If you stream or take calls every day, this is the one.
Check price on Amazon2.Glide Gear TMP 100
Best valueBeam splitter for phone or tablet
- Holds a phone or tablet
- Aluminum frame
- Fits camera rails and tripods
- Minimal assembly
Why we like it
- Solid build for the money
- Works with the iPad or iPhone you already have
- Quick to set up and break down
Watch out for
- Larger tablets can be a tight fit
- Glass needs care in transport
Verdict: The default recommendation for creators moving from a phone on a stand to a real rig.
Check price on Amazon3.NEEWER X14 III
Large iPadsBeam splitter for tablets
- Fits up to 12.9" iPad Pro
- Wide hood
- Manfrotto 501PL-compatible plate
- Camera or phone behind the glass
Why we like it
- Big glass means big text: read from further away
- Hood blocks reflections well
- Mounts on standard tripod heads
Watch out for
- Bulky for small spaces
- Needs a sturdy tripod
Verdict: Best if you already own a large iPad and film from a few metres back.
Check price on Amazon4.Desview T3
Budget with clean glassBeam splitter for phone or small tablet
- Multi-coated glass
- Works with wide phone lenses
- Phone or camera behind the glass
- Compact
Why we like it
- Noticeably less ghosting than cheap glass
- Good for filming with the phone itself behind the glass
- Light and compact
Watch out for
- Smaller glass limits reading distance
- Plastic parts on some versions
Verdict: The pick if you want to shoot on your phone's main camera through the glass and keep the kit small.
Check price on Amazon5.NEEWER X12
Mid-range camera rigsBeam splitter for phone or tablet
- Aluminum build
- Phone or tablet
- For mirrorless and DSLR
- Remote-ready
Why we like it
- Sturdy at a mid-range price
- Good glass size for 1.5 to 2.5 metres
- Plenty of mounting options
Watch out for
- Heavier than phone-sized rigs
- Assembly takes a few minutes
Verdict: A dependable workhorse for a home studio with a mirrorless camera.
Check price on Amazon6.Parrot Teleprompter (Padcaster)
TravelUltra-compact beam splitter for phone
- Phone-sized
- Mounts directly on a camera lens
- Fits in a bag
- Uses your phone as the screen
Why we like it
- Tiny: goes anywhere your camera goes
- Very quick to set up on location
- Great for interviews and pieces to camera
Watch out for
- Small text means you must be close to the camera
- Not ideal for long scripts
Verdict: For shooters on the move who need a prompter in the camera bag, not on a trolley.
Check price on Amazon7.FEELWORLD TP16
Studio and stageLarge beam splitter for tablets
- Large glass
- Tablet as screen
- For longer reading distances
- Studio camera support
Why we like it
- Readable from further away, so you can frame wider
- Good for corporate and presentation setups
Watch out for
- Large and heavy
- Overkill for close-up talking heads
Verdict: Pick it when the presenter stands several metres from the camera.
Check price on Amazon8.Ikan PT-Elite
Professional productionsPro beam splitter for tablets
- Professional build
- Tablet as screen
- Broadcast-style hood
- For cinema and broadcast cameras
Why we like it
- Built for daily professional use
- Handles heavier camera setups
- Clean, stable image through the glass
Watch out for
- Price and weight are for pros
- More than a solo creator needs
Verdict: For production companies and studios that set up a prompter every week.
Check price on AmazonHow to choose
1. What will be the screen?
Most rigs use a phone or tablet you already own, driven by an app. The Elgato Prompter has its own display and runs from a computer. If you already have an iPad, you only need the glass.
2. How far from the camera will you be?
Glass size decides text size, and text size decides how far back you can stand. Phone-sized glass works within about a metre. Tablet-sized glass works at two to three metres. Beyond that, go big.
3. What camera?
Check that the rig's hood fits your lens, and that your tripod head can carry the weight of the camera plus the prompter plus a tablet. Front-heavy rigs need a counterweight or a sturdier tripod.
4. Who presses play?
If you're alone, you need the script to move without touching the device: voice scrolling, a Bluetooth foot pedal, or a remote on your wrist. Teleprompter Premium+ supports all three.
Before you buy hardware
Try the free online teleprompter on this site with your phone propped right under your webcam. If eye contact is good enough, you may not need glass at all.
The app side
Whichever rig you pick (other than the Elgato, which has its own screen), you'll drive it with an app. Look for mirror mode, big adjustable text, a cue marker, and a way to control it from where you sit: voice scrolling, a pedal or a remote.
Turn your iPhone or iPad into the screen for any teleprompter rig.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a hardware teleprompter?
- Not always. For phone videos, text right under the front camera is often enough. For a proper camera, or if you want perfect eye contact, a beam splitter rig is the way to go.
- Can I use an iPad as a teleprompter screen?
- Yes. Most tablet rigs are designed around an iPad. Use an app with mirror mode.
- What is beam splitter glass?
- Glass coated so it reflects part of the light (so you can read text) and lets part through (so the camera can see you). Better coatings mean less ghosting.
- What's a teleprompter called in Italian?
- Gobbo. In Italian TV slang the teleprompter is "il gobbo".